Raising Boys & Girls Episode 348: Protecting Kids Online, In the Real World and All the Awkward Conversations with Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson from Birds and Bees
Feb 10, 2026
Megan Michelson, former middle school teacher who equips parents to talk about sex, tech, and safety, and Mary Flo Ridley, longtime family education presenter on body boundaries, join to discuss protecting kids in a fast tech world. They cover slowing down to connect, building discernment and intuition, age-appropriate screen and body boundaries, grooming cues, and keeping calm, regular conversations rather than one big talk.
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Drip Information Early And Often
- Break scary topics into age-appropriate 'drip, drip, drip' conversations rather than one big talk.
- Teach simple rules early: no one looks at or touches private parts and stop, run, and tell if they see something bad.
Teach No-Secrets And Boundary Rules
- Teach children that secrets are not safe and give them permission to resist authority that disrespects boundaries.
- Explain grooming cues calmly: authority, gifts, closeness, and secrecy can be deceptive.
Set Practical Household Guardrails
- Set clear household rules: keep doors open during play, keep clothes on, and forbid keeping secrets.
- Parents stay hyper-aware of adults around kids while avoiding fear-driven messages to children.
